Kinston, NC: 10-year-old takes relative’s car and damages cars, trees, and property on Tuesday, July 28th 2015

A 10-year-old boy is back home after police say he stole a car overnight, crashed it, and damaged property and other cars in the process.Kinston police say after he stole the car, he crashed it in the 500 block of College Street just after 3 o’clock Monday morning.The 10-year-old was driving on Washington Avenue, crossed over College Street and ran off the road hitting a fence, two parked cars, and several trees.Police say the boy ran off, but was found and released to his father.Family members say the boy stole the car keys off the counter top in an attempt to mimic a video game.Family member, Robert Towle, said, “he wanted to see what it was like to drive a car fast, and unfortunately he did.”Joshua Gooding lives in the house that had property damage, he said he never expected something like this to happen.“When we found out he was ten, it was mind boggling. At ten years old, you should be sleep somewhere or playing a video game, and if your playing a video game I hope it didn’t influence him to do this,” Gooding said.The boy’s family says he was spending the night with relatives. He told everyone goodnight and at some point got up and took the keys.“We heard the vehicle leaving the yard and we thought it was someone else in the vehicle so we left out to see who had took the vehicle,” Towle said.Gooding doesn’t think the 10-year-old should go to jail, but says there should be some consequences for his actions.“He needs a very very strict reprimanding from his parents, just to influence his decision making from here on out,” Gooding said.No one was hurt in this incident. No charges are filed yet, but police say he will go through the juvenile justice system.Family members told WNCT that the boy was a good kid, and hasn’t done anything like this before.

Source :

10-year-old takes relative’s car: damages cars, trees, and property